Salary: $115,008.00 - $154,656.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: Information Technology
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: 8/26/2026 12:00 AM Pacific

Description
Job Title: IT Network and Telecommunications - Senior Manager

Location: Olympia, WA, Thurston County (Hybrid)

Closes: August 26th, 2026

Salary: $115,008.00 - $154,656.00 Annually

IT plays an important role in helping DCYF support children, youth, and families by providing the technology and systems staff need to deliver effective services. From supporting social workers and Juvenile Rehabilitation facilities to developing innovative solutions, DCYF IT helps staff work more efficiently and improve outcomes for children and families across Washington.
The Opportunity:

As the Senior Manager of IT Operations, you will serve as a key technology leader for DCYF, providing strategic oversight and direction for enterprise IT operations, including network services, infrastructure, systems administration, platform reliability, and operational support. This role ensures secure, reliable, and innovative technology solutions that align with agency priorities while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence. The Senior Manager of IT Operations partners with executive leaders, business stakeholders, and statewide organizations to drive modernization efforts, evaluate emerging technologies, and ensure technology services effectively support DCYF's mission and critical business operations.
Some of what you will get to do:

• Champion innovation by identifying, evaluating, and implementing emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and cloud-based solutions, to improve operational efficiency and service delivery.
• Oversee disaster recovery planning, testing, validation, and documentation to ensure organizational readiness and compliance with established recovery objectives
• Manage enterprise agreements with vendors and contractors related to IT field operations functions within DCYF.
• Develop and maintain DCYF's IT operations model for end-users (employees, stakeholders, and the public).
• Align operational priorities and functions with the IT division's Enterprise Architecture model and approved plans.
• Assist with the development of strategies to reduce risk to organization information and assets.
• Develop and execute IT operations strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Lead modernization initiatives across infrastructure, networking, cloud services, automation, and AI-enabled operations.
• Build workforce capabilities that support evolving technology and business requirements.
• Create an inclusive and collaborative work environment that promotes accountability, engagement, and professional growth.
• Communicate technology strategies, risks, priorities, and operational performance clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, security standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to manage operational risk and resilience.
• Strategic planning and roadmap development skills, with the ability to set clear goals, prioritize initiatives and track progress against KPIs.
• Develop and execute long-range IT strategies that align with overall DCYF business objectives, ensuring technology investments support and drive enterprise growth.

Required Qualifications:

Ten (10) years of progressive IT experience leading enterprise IT operations and infrastructure functions.
OR

Bachelor's degree in computer science, networking, information systems or a related field; AND six (6) years of continuous experience working in an IT operations capacity as an enterprise leader and decision-maker in high risk or high impact environments that impact users and stakeholders, including the public.
AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

*Master's degree may substitute for 2 years of service.

Additional Qualifications:

• Five years of progressively more responsible and multi-dimensional experience in managing people and programs within information technologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Previous demonstrated experience leading teams of IT technicians performing complex enterprise IT operations work.
• Deep knowledge of enterprise IT operations principles, requirements, models, and current industry standards.
• Expert knowledge of the Washington State IT operations lifecycle and the intricacies of its individual components.
• Expert knowledge of the design and implementation of enterprise IT operations deployments to end-users;
• Expert knowledge of security principles, concepts, and practices as they relate to IT end-user support; Expert knowledge working with cloud architecture (e.g. Azure, AWS, Salesforce, etc.)
• Previously demonstrated experience working in a highly regulated environment where IT assets and data are subject to a broad range of State and federal requirements and regulations.
• Previously demonstrated experience working in an IT environment that leverages enterprise licensing agreements.
• Previously demonstrated experience with State contracting rules, laws, practices, and procedures specific to enterprise IT procurement.
• Previously demonstrated experience developing RFQ, RFI, and RFP language.
• Previously demonstrated experience participating in information security incident response and disaster recovery exercises.
• Previously demonstrated experience developing and maintaining documentation for a large, diverse audience (ex: IT portfolio, IT service catalog, recommendations, issue papers, reports).

Preferred Qualifications

• Previously demonstrated ability to develop, present, and implement strategic and tactical enterprise architecture plans.
• Previously demonstrated experience working in a fast paced environment that employs Agile and DevOps.
• Previously demonstrated experience building and developing large teams.
• Relevant certifications (ITIL, PMP, CISSP, CCNP, Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, AI-related certifications).
• Experience leading AI, cloud transformation, or enterprise modernization initiatives.

How do I apply?Complete your applicant profile on careers.wa.gov and attach the following documents:

• Current resume detailing experience and education.

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington's children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 ho